Handle arrangment for a carton

ABSTRACT

A paperboard carton is disclosed that has a base with first and second top panels. The first top panel incorporates a pair of spaced slots and secondary end panels hingedly connected to opposite side edges. The secondary end panels are folded against and adhesively secured to the first top panel. The second top panel is folded over and adhered to the secondary end panels to provide reinforcement for the top while enabling access to a handle formed in the first top panel.

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 (b) to Britishapplication, ser. No. 0005317.3, filed on Mar. 7, 2000 and Britishapplication, ser. No. 0014131.7, filed on Jun. 10, 2000 and PCTapplication, ser. No. PCT/GB01/00841, filed on Feb. 28, 2001 under 35U.S.C. §363.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a carton having a handle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a paperboard cartonhaving a base, first and second side panels hingedly connected toopposite side edges of the base, first and second top panels hingedlyconnected to the first and second side panels respectively, one or moreparts of said first top panel defining handle means and the first toppanel having secondary end panels hingedly connected thereto wherein thesecondary end panels are folded against and adhesively secured to thefirst top panel and the second top panel overlies the first top paneland secondary end panels combination and is adhesively secured thereto,said second top panel enabling access to the handle means of the firsttop panel.

Preferably said one or more parts of said first top panel comprise oneor more openings and said secondary end panels have cooperating cut-awayportions. Ideally said one or more parts comprise a pair of spaced,lengthwise extending slots. In preferred arrangements the second toppanel has apertures which overlie said slots and the secondary endpanels are shaped so as to keep the slots exposed when secured to thefirst top panel.

It is a preferred feature that the hinge connections between thesecondary end panels and the first top panel incorporate relieved areas.Conveniently each hinge connection comprises two spaced hinge portionslocated adjacent respective side edges of the first top panel.

In preferred embodiments, base end panels and top end panels arehingedly connected to the base end second top panels respectively andthe first and second side panels have at each of their lengthwise edgesend panels hingedly connected thereto, the base and top end panelsoverlying the side end panels at each end and being adhesively securedthereto and to each other. Normally the secondary end panels areadhesively secured to the top of the first top panel and the second toppanel is adhesively secured to the secondary end panels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in moredetail. The description makes reference to the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 shows a blank for producing a carton according to the presentinvention,

FIG. 2 shows the FIG. 1 blank in an early stage of assembly, and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an assembled carton without taperingside walls.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In FIGS. 1 to 3 there is shown a blank 10 which when constructed forms acarton 11 for a plurality of articles such as bottles (not shown). Inthis embodiment twelve bottles are to be contained in three rows of fourbottles but the blank could easily be adapted for any number of bottles,cans or other articles.

The blank 10 has a base 13, side panels 14 hingedly connected theretoand first and second top panels 15, 16 hingedly connected to respectiveopposite side panels 14. The hinge connections could be by simple foldlines, partially cut fold lines or other suitable means. The base 13 hasbase end panels 17 which in use are folded up and the second top panel16 has hingedly connected top end panels 18, which when assembled arefolded down. Hingedly connected to the side panels 14 are end closurepanels 20 which are folded inwardly and are adhesively secured to theend panels 17, 18 so as to fully enclose the ends of the carton 11.

The first top panel 15 incorporates a pair of spaced slots 21 whichdefine handle means. The slots 21 are located such that the handle meansis located centrally between the two side panels 14. At each end of thetop panel 15, cut away portions 24 are included between the hinges 23 tofacilitate folding of the hinges 23. The secondary end panels 22 havecut-away portions 25 which cooperate with the slots in the first toppanel when the panels are folded together.

The second top panel 16 has push-in flaps 26 hingedly connected at 27.When the flaps are pushed in, apertures are formed.

Lines of weakening 28 are provided in the first and second top panels15, 16 and in the side panels 14 and where the top panels 15, 16 overlapthe lines of weakening 28 are aligned. The lines of weakening 28 allowthe consumer to open the carton with ease so as to gain access to thecontents of the carton. Other configurations are of course possible forthe lines of weakening and they could also be omitted on one or bothsides of the handle if desired.

Assembly of the carton 11 is as follows. The secondary end panels 22 areglued and folded on to the top of the first top panel 15. The twelvebottles in this instance are positioned on the base 13 and the sidewalls 14 are folded up. The first top panel 15 and secondary end panels22 are folded over the tops of the bottles and adhesive is applied toareas 29 of the secondary top panels 22 as shown in FIG. 2. The secondtop panel 16 is then folded over and adhered to the secondary end panelssuch that the flaps 26 overlie the cut-away portions 25.

The end closure flaps 20 are folded inwardly, the base end panel 17 isfolded upwardly to be secured to the lower end closure flaps 20, and thetop end panels 18 are then folded to be secured to the base end paneland upper end closure flaps 20 so as to close off the ends of the cartonwhich is thus fully enclosed.

To pick up the carton 11, the flaps 26 are pushed in through the alignedcut-away portions 25 and slots 21 and can be folded under the areabetween the slots 21. The secondary end panels 22 provide reinforcementfor the top of the carton 11, but are formed from an area of paperboardwhich would normally be wasted.

The carton could of course be varied in a number of ways such as sizeand shape of the carton, handle, areas of weakening.

What is claimed is:
 1. A paperboard carton having abase, first andsecond side panels hingedly connected to opposite side edges of thebase, first and second top panels hingedly connected to the first andsecond side panels respectively, one or more parts of said first toppanel defining a handle and the first top panel having secondary endpanels hingedly connected thereto wherein the secondary end panels arcfolded against and adhesively secured to the first top panel and thesecond top panel overlies the first top panel and secondary end panelscombination and is adhesively secured thereto, said second top panelenabling access to the handle means of the first top panel.
 2. A cartonas claimed in claim 1 wherein said one or more parts of said first toppanel comprise one or more openings and said secondary end panels havecooperating cut-away portions.
 3. A carton as claimed in claim 2 whereinsaid one or more parts comprise a pair of spaced, lengthwise extendingslots.
 4. A carton as claimed in claim 3 wherein the second top panelhas apertures which overlie said slots and the secondary end panels areshaped so as to keep the slots exposed when secured to the first toppanel.
 5. A carton as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hinge connectionsbetween the secondary end panels and the first top panel incorporaterelieved areas.
 6. A carton as claimed in claim 1 wherein each hingeconnection comprises two spaced binge portions located adjacentrespective side edges of the first top panel.
 7. A carton as claimed inclaim 1 wherein base end panels and top end panels are hingedlyconnected to the base and the second top panels respectively and thefirst and second side panels have at each of their lengthwise edges endpanels hingedly connected thereto, the base and top end panels overlyingthe side end panels at each end and being adhesively secured thereto andto each other.
 8. A carton as claimed in claim 7 wherein the secondaryend panels are adhesively secured to the top of the first top panel andthe second top panel is adhesively secured to the secondary end panels.